Shaver



May l5, 1945.

H. SCHLOTTHAUER SHAVER Filed Aug. 26, 1939 employed:

'Patented May 15, 1945l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHAVER Herman Schlotthauer, Chicago, Ill. Application August 26, 1939, Serial No. 292,004

' (C1. sri-41) Claims.

The invention relates generally to shaving mechanisms and more particularly to an improved construction of the so-called dry shavers.

The invention has among its objects the production of such a shaver which is relatively simple in construction, very efficient in operation and very durable.

` Another object of the invention is the production of such a shaver, in which the hair clippings are drawn into the device, instead of being expelled into the air, and which after use, may be readily cleaned.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a shaver in which the hair clippings may be removed from the device without removing the cutting head or otherwise disassembling the shaver.

A further object of the invention is the production of a shaver in which the cutting head and the cutter are so constructed that they are always accurately aligned and operating at maximum efilciency.

Another object of the invention is the production of a cutting head which is so designed that regardless of the direction in which the device is moved in use,'there will be two comb-like portions to raise the hair.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a shaver in which the hair clippings are drawn into the device and expelled into a suitable container by a centrifugal fan, thereby insuring efficient removal of all clippings from the cutting head, and providing maximum passage of air through the head to maintain the latter cool and clean.

Many other objects and advantages of the' invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shaver embodyingr the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through :the upper portion-of the shaver shawn in Fig. 1` taken substantially on the vertical axis of the device;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentarysectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the cutting head Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking ring for securing the cutting head to the body of the shaver; and

Fig. 6 is a lateral sectional view through the cutter assembly showing the construction thereof.

Referring to the drawing, I designates generally a motor housing of any suitable material, in

which is carried the operating motor of suitable design and capacity, and provided with a power cord 2 and if desired a switch operated by the knob 3 may be incorporated therewith.

The cutting head assembly, as shown in Fig. 2 comprises a housing 4 which is threaded to or otherwise suitably carried at one end by the motor housing Ir the housing 4 terminating at its free end in a cutting head support 5 upon which the cutting head proper 6 is seated. The latter is removably secured to the support by a lock ring 'I as will hereinafter be described.

The motor drive shaft 'extends through the housing 4 and carries the cutter assembly 9,

which cooperates with the cutting head in cutting the hairs. 'I'he housing 4 is provided with a chamber or bore II through which the shaft 8 passes Vand in which, secured to the shaft, is positioned a centrifugal fan I2. The bore communicates with the cutting head 6 through the portion I3 thereof which as shown is of reduced diameter, while the outer wall I4 of the bore is provided with one or more openings I5, so that in operation air will be drawn through the cutting head, into the portion I3 and bore II and exhausted through the openings I5.

The cutting head consists of a ring-like cutting face I5 having a plurality of radial slots I'I therein, the outer periphery of the face being constructed in the form of a bead I8 to provide a comb for raising the hairs to be cut and holding them in a vertical position as they enter the slots. The portion I9 of the head bounded by the inner edge 2| of the cutting face is recessed below the plane of said face, so that the inner edge 2| of said face substantially provides a second comb. Thus, regardless of how the hairs enter the slots in the cutting. face, they will in all cases be raised up for close cutting. Likewise, it will be noted, that due to the radial construction of the cutting slots regardless of the direction in which the cutting head is moved over the surface to be shaved, cutting slots will be properly positioned for efficient shaving, and at'all times, there will be two combs simultaneously raising thel hairs.

The lower edge of the cutting head is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending lugs 22 while the ring 1 is provided with corresponding, inwardly'extending lugs 23. The ring and the support are both provided with cooperating threads 24 for securing one to the other. When the cutting head is positioned on the support and the ring screwed down thereon, the lugs on the ring will overlie the lugs on the cutting head, thereby securely clamping the head to the support. Removal of the head from the support is readily accomplished without removing the ring by merely loosening the latter whereby the cutting head is free to be rotated until the lugs on the cutting head are intermediate the lugs on the ring, afterwhich the cutting head may be drawn from the ring and support, the lugs onthe head passing between the lugs on the ring. The flange 25, on the end of the support 5, engageable with the head insures accurate alignment between the same at all times. To reassemble, the procedure is merely reversed, the head being placed on the support, the lugs on the respective parts being intermediate one another, after which the ring is screwed down, with the lugs on the ring overlying those on the head, thereby locking the head to the support. If desired, the head may be secured to the support by other means, but I have found the construction described to be simple and very elcient.

A cutter assembly designated generally by the numeral 9 cooperates with the head in cutting the hairs. The assembly consists of the cutter proper which-is in the form of a plate member 26 operatively held in a supporting collar or chuck 21, the latter being carried by the end of the driving shaft 8. The collar is insulated from the shaft by a sleeve 28 of suitable material such as hard rubber or the like. The sleeve is provided with slots 29 adapted to receive the pin 3l passing through the shaft 8, thereby providing a driving connection between the collar and the shaft, the sleeve being rigidly secured to the collar by any suitable means. An insulating washer 32 is normally disposed adjacent the outer edge of the sleeve'"and chuck assembly, and upon which washer a coiled spring 33t-bears, thereby urging the cutter into engagement with the cutting head. The collar 21 is provided with a slot or groove 34, extending transversely to the driving shaft, and of a size to receive the cutter 26. It will be noted that the bottom of the groove is not level, but tapers from the axis of the shaft, away from the cutter, thus forming a high point 35 adjacent the axis. The cutter 26 is provided with a pair of cutting edges 36 positioned adjacent opposite sides of the shearing face 31 and is provided with bearing edges 38 offset from the cutting edges and engageable with the inner face 39 of the recessed portion, the inner face of the latter also being offset from the shearing face due to such recession. A small pin 40 retains the cutter in the groove, but as lthe cutter is longitudinally cut away adjacent the pin as shown at 4 I, the cutter can shift longitudinally relative the collar and pin, and as the groove 34 is tapered it can also rock transversely to the shearing face t automatically adjust itself to the cutting head. The pin 40 may, if desired, be eliminated, thereby allowing removal of the cutter 26 from the collar 21 for sterilizing or the like. As above mentioned the bearing edges 39 of the cutter seat or bear upon the inner face 38 of the portionIB, so that the pressure of the spring 33 is exerted on these surfaces and not on the shearing surface, the dimensions of the, head and cutter being such as to permit substantially no pressure on the shearing surface 81 and edges 36 of the cutter 26.

The fan I2 consists oi' a transverse base plate 42 having the'hub 43 by meansof'whlch it is rigidly carried by the shaft 8, the plate having mounted thereon a plurality of radially extending blades 44. As the fan is rotated air is driven radially outward through the openings I5 by the centrifugal force created, the air being drawn through the cutting head 6 and portion I3 of the bore II. The opposite end of the spring 33 bears against the base of the fan, the spring being compressed between the washer 32 adjacent the supporting collar and the fan base. Surrounding the outerl portion of the housing adjacent the openings or ports I5 is a ring member 45, which in combination with the housing forms a chamber 46, communicating with the fan chamber or bore. The member may be secured to the housing by any suitable means, and as shown in the drawing, is merely frictionally engaged therewith, the member being readily removed and replaced by exerting sufficient force to overcome the frictional resistance between the parts. The member is provided with one or more openings in the outer wall 41 thereof for the passage of air therethrough, a suitable screen 48 of cloth or other material preventing the passage of hair clippings or other matter through y the same. I have found in practice that a silk screen is very eicient for this purpose, the hair ber 45, respectively. All hair clippings and any other matter are carried by this air into the chamber 46 where they will be retained by the screen, the latter permitting substantially only the passage of air through the openings. After the surface has been shaved, the device is cleaned merely by removing the member 45, and with it the accumulated hair clippings, etc., which due to the air current, have a tendency to be deposited on the screen. 'Ihe member may be cleaned merely by tapping it upon a hard surface to knock out the clippings. yThe cutting head is easily removedfor cleaning as previously described. The circulation of air through the cutting head and around the portion I'9 maintains the head, and particularly the bearing surfaces 38 and 39, cool, thus preventing excessive heating of the head, and it will be noted that the openings 49 allow this circulation of air through the head even when the cutting face is pressed against the shaving surface so that the cooling effect is maintained continuously.

Due to the centrifugal action of the fan, maximum efficiency is attained therefrom, thus insuring that allclippings, etc., enter the chamber and are accumulated therein.

It will be seen from the above description that I have provided `a shaver having a very eicient cutting mechanism and having means fory collecting the clippings, whichtis so constructed that it may be readily emptied and cleaned without removing the cutting head or otherwise disassembling the device.

' Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not `wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a shaver, the combination of a body, a cutting head carried thereby, a cooperating cutter, said body having a bore therein communicating with said cutting head, and a fan positioned in said bore, said body having a chamber laterally positioned adjacent said bore, the intermediate wall between them having an opening therein connecting the bore and chamber, an outer side wall of the latter being detachable from said body to permit access to the chamber.

2. In a shaver, the combination of a body, a cutting head carried thereby, a cooperating cutter, said body having a bore therein communieating `with said cutting head, and a centrifugal fan positioned in said bore, said body having a chamber concentric with said bore adjacent said fan, the intermediate wall between them having an opening therein connecting the bore and opening but having at least a portion thereof spaced therefrom to form a chamber communieating through said opening with said lbore, said member being removably secured to said housmg. Y

4. In a shaver, the combination of a housing, said housing having abore therein, a cutting head positioned at one end of said bore, a driving shaft extending in said bore, a cutter carried by the free end of said shaft, a fan positioned in said bore and carried by said shaft, the side walls 0f said bore having a plurality of openings there'- in adjacent said fan, a ring-like member overlying said openings but having at least a portion thereof spaced therefromA to form a chamber concentric with said bore and communicating with the latter through said openings, said member having one or more openings communicating with the exterior, and means covering said member openings for substantially preventing the passage of matter other than air therethrough.

5. In a shaver, the combination of a body, a cutting head carried thereby, said cutting head having apertures in its walls, a cooperating cutting member, said `body having a bore therein communicating with said cutting head, a fan positioned in said bore, said body having a chamber laterally positioned adjacent said bore, the intermediate wall between them having an opening therein connecting the bore and chamber, the outer side wall of the latter having screened openings therein through which the fan discharges air drawn into the bore through the 

